“She asked me, ‘Why can’t you vote?’ I told her, ‘Because I’m an ex-convict. I was granted pardon but that did not reinstate my right to vote,’” he said.

Padilla was meted out a 21-year jail term by the Angeles City Regional Trial Court for illegal possession of firearms in April 1994. His conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeals in July 1995. He started serving his sentence two months later.

In 1997, the Supreme Court affirmed his conviction but cut his jail term to 10-18 years.

Padilla’s conviction stemmed from a hit-and-run accident in Barangay Sta. Teresita, Angeles City, on Oct. 26, 1992. The actor, who was driving a Pajero van, sideswiped a balut vendor.

He fled the scene but was intercepted by policemen along Abacan River. A .357-cal. revolver, an M-16 assault rifle and a .380-cal. Beretta pistol as well as ammunition—all unlicensed—were later found in his vehicle.

Padilla benefited from the retroactive provision of Republic Act. No. 8294, a law which reduced the jail term for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives from six to 12 years.

In April 1998, he was granted conditional pardon by then President Fidel V. Ramos, for whom he campaigned in 1992.

Jurado said Padilla wanted to clear his name because it affected his product endorsements.

In a three-page complaint, Padilla cried foul over the user’s post that read: “This is a clear violation of election law. Throw him in jail!”

“Post/tweet was clearly made without proper research and for the sole purpose of defaming our client supposedly because he supported a candidate which Miss Krizzy (@krizzy_kalerqui) does not support,” Jurado said in the complaint.

NBI-CCD chief Roland Aguto said the agency accepted the case and would wait for Padilla’s sworn statement. He said the first step of their investigation would be to establish the user’s real identity. With a report from Inquirer Archives

Republic Act 8485 (Animal Welfare Act of 1998, Philippines), as amended and strengthened by House Bill 6893 of 2013--- violation means a maximum of P250,000 fine with a corresponding three-year jail term and a minimum of P30,000 fine and six months imprisonment